Homeless But Not Hopeless

Wednesday, 4 December 2013

25/11/2013 - Cycling SE Asia. Day 22–Up, Up, Up and Downhill with a Smile Despite the Close Calls.

Distance cycled: 96.5km from Puncac Pass to Bandung, Indonesia
Average speed: 18.0km/h
Moving time: 5h22m
Total distance: 2446km
Border X'ings: 3
Money spent: roughly $18

View 25NOV13 in a larger map

I don't know exactly what put me into such a bad state yesterday, maybe some bad food, perhaps exhausting myself having climbed 1000m up the side of a volcano, it could have been the altitude but what I think is most likely is the inhalation of all the exhaust from passing trucks, buses, cars, motorbikes and scooters.
The pollution levels of Java has to on top of the list of being the most polluted place on earth, I am finding myself even rubbing off black residue accumulating on my arms and even believing that I am decreasing my life span the more time I spend on these roads. It really is that bad.
However I don't have a choice... Well I do, I could get the train but where's the fun in that?
Having only cycled 2 days here in Indonesia the country is offering a hell of a lot more variety in terms of terrain than I had on mainland SE Asia with hard climbs, great descents and seldom have I encountered a flat road.
Now, these ascending roads I have tackled perhaps offered better views than the photos I have taken but I wouldn't know, I was too busy trying not to be hit by the traffic. Speaking of which, entering Bandung and the suburbs west of it I was enjoying the danger of swerving in and out of the condensed battling of traffic at rush hour keeping up to and even passing the petrol powered vehicles. If there is anywhere in the world I would be decapitated and my entrails being sprawled out over the road, it is here in Indonesia.
Dont worry mum and dad, I'll cycle safe.

Up and Down the Puncak Pass, Indonesia

24/11/2013 - Reset button.

It would seem last night and today my body hit the reset button, for some reason or another I could not sleep and although i expelled the contents of my stomach into a plastic bag beside my tent my head throbbed and spun like... I don't know what.
I tried covering a bit of distance between myself and my sick but I didn't want to tackle the last 500meter (in altitude) climb to the top of the pass feeling the way I did. So instead I told some locals I was Saya Sakit (I'm ill) and one security guard named Joe Harry took me in.
Joe Harry let me sleep on the floor of his security box at the entrance way of one of the homes of his boss who runs Mitsubishi in Jakarta. Joe introduced me to his friends but even with my head spinning in all directions I couldn't bare being awake conscious at the time. Instead I put my head down and slept more than I ever have in any one day, in the 24 hours I was out for at least 20 of them.
Joe fed me food,nursed me into a better state and I honestly can't thank him enough for all that he is.
Indonesians, please stay as friendly as you are.

Joe Harry and his friend, behind is where I slept for the night

23/11/2013 - Cycling SE Asia. Day 21–Pollution Levels High!

Distance cycled: 75.1km from Jakarta to 1000m in altitude on highway 3 SE of Jakarta.
Average speed: 16.6km/h
Moving time: 4h31m
Total distance: 2350km
Border X'ings: 3
Money spent: Not much.

View 23NOV13 in a larger map

Now I thought the Malaysians were friendly and giving but this one day I have cycled in Indonesia I was pampered beyond belief. Locals, left right and center with big smiles offered me their kindness refusing to let me pay for pretty much everything today, even items I didn't need.
Despite all this generosity I was certainly thrown into the shark infested deep end regarding to cycling out of the capital of the most populated island on earth. The roads were not as bad as I anticipated but the traffic... Oh my god... The traffic was relentless, at no point during the 4+ hours of cycling 75km did I get a break from honking, the road being cram-packed with all vehicles being bumper to bumper and with no indication that you have entered a new town as there was no visual gap between them. Put simply it was fucking crazy. Thanks to my bicycle being much narrower than all the other vehicles I was able to squeeze past most of the traffic on, I suppose what you call the shoulder which was a mix of broken asphalt, garbage, glass and dirt.
Essentially today's terrain profile could be described as almost an exponential curve where the road got progressively steeper as the roasting day went on but still I reached my goal of 1000m in altitude meaning tomorrow I only have to climb 500m before I can enjoy the descent over the volcano pass. Because this was the first decent climb that I have tackled since Turkey I struggled quite a lot, drippin with sweat, having a few exhaustion breaks where i was gasping to recover my breath and the agonizing pain of cramps in my legs I found some sort of resort where the security guards and the reception were kind enough to let me sleep in my tent under an unused pavilion.
Writing this now having had a quick dip in the swimming pool I am nursing several cramps in my legs and feet... I should stop smoking and eat more bananas.

On my way out of Jakarta, lots of friendly locals and busy roads

Jakarta. 6 degrees south of the Equator 18/11/2013 to 22/11/2013

View Larger Map

Most people when traveling Indonesia use Jakarta to catch up on sleep from jet-lag or spend a day and get a flight elsewhere as to be honest there really wasn't much to do there, yes there is of course shopping, the national monument and places to drink however one hung I have always said "it's never about where you are, it is always about who you are with".
As you can see I spent a considerable amount of time here in Jakarta but that's because, you have guessed it, I met some really cool people, the people I hung out with, like I said at the beginning of the post would only spend a night so for the 5 nights that I spent I just continued meeting cool people.
The hostel I stayed at for the majority of the time was called 6 degrees, it had all the facilities plus a gym, pool table and even a putting green on the rooftop; run by the most friendliest of people it was certainly hard to leave especially seeing the road outside with crazy traffic that was near impossible to cross... And I'm suppose to cycle on that road...??
Um... The things I went to check out, the national monument, the backpacker street and the shipping docks where the work done there is as it was a century ago. I hope the pictures below will paint a better picture from what I could but can not be bothered to describe :)
Thanks to all who I met in Jakarta, it was a blast.
Oh, forgot to mention; the food here is a hit or a miss. Thankfully I found a place across the road from the hostel that consistently made unbelievable food, however not as good as Thai street food.

Jakarta Shipping Docks.

National Monument with the girls.

60KG of Costume and then dance the streets in 35 degree heat!!!

Oh Yeah! Durian Flavoured Condoms!!!! I bet all the girls would be all over you when your penis smells and tastes like durian!

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Singapore.

Having cycled the 2250km from Bangkok I somewhat expected a welcoming party to celebrate my arrival to this very expensive, small and sterile country; however like always when reaching my final destination on these cycling endeavors I have to engage others to join in the crazy festivities for the completion of cycling such a vast distance.
When I say crazy, I would normally mean many celebratory drinks and a drunken state of mind to share my experiences with other backpackers from around the world, this was not the case here in Singapore because a. it really isn't my final destination and b. it's just damn too expensive for even one night of alcohol consumption.
As this was a time for me to see family and celebrate my grandpas 90th birthday it was time to be tame and enjoy what singapore had to offer on a strict budget.
I spent the first two nights at a hostel where I met a few people before my cousin Victoria and friend Julia (from Scotland) showed up where we were able to run about the city going to places like the 154 year old Botanic gardens, Harbor front view and Santosa island to enjoy the waterpark that we all got for free due to the weather closing it down and my actions to convince the parks office personnel to refund all our money, even though we got a good few hours of riding the rides.
Seeing my relatives who many of them I have not seen in close to fifteen years was nice however most of them with conservative values questioned the choices in my life (where I get to travel the world for 9 months a year) and somewhat disagreed to this. My response to all my family members who tried to convince me to return home and lead a typical and non-exciting lifestyle unlike the one I am living and pursuing was that I am doing what 95% of people say they wanted to do when they were young and that is simply to travel the world.
Still, despite this I still enjoyed myself in their company.
Grandpas dinner party was held in a restaurant where the food was less than mediocre but the following day where a bunch of my relatives got together at grandpas place I got one thing I have missed since I first left Australia and that is a proper Ong (my mothers maiden name) dinner where every bite sends you close to orgasmic pleasure. So so so good. It's making my mouth water just by thinking about it.
I spent some days with Mum and dad, they are the same as always however our time together was short and sweet.
My last evening in Singapore I caught up with a girl (Serene) I met in Columbia many years ago where we enjoyed some of the bars near orchard road, it was fantastic catching up with her but next time I see her I will pay for the drinks, got that Serene!?
I changed some of my plans and booked a flight to Jakarta where I would continue this bike trip, I initially thought I would just backpack there but it was only another 30 Dollars to take my bike so, why not!; besides I need to clock up the kilometers to cycle the 40,000km that it is for the circumference of earth before I am 30... Or before I reach 31 years of age.